Flashlight



Aug. 29, 1939. A. GELARmN 2,171,304

FLASHLIGHT Filed oct. 29,v 1956 lNvEN'roR ALBERT GELARDIN ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to flashlights or flash lamps of the kind in which the electrical circuit between an incandescent lamp and the battery is adapted to be completed at will.

One object of the invention is to provide a flash lamp of the kind which can be conveniently carried in the pocket without danger of inadvertent closing of the circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide for light transmission through the casing of the ilashlight proximate the incandescent lamp.

The invention also seeks a translucid closure for the end of the flashlight which surrounds the incandescent lamp whereby light rays emanating from the lamp pass through a translucent portion thereof while other rays emanating from said lamp are directed in a beam with undimnished intensity through a transparent portion.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a circuit closure for a lamp of the character described which comprises, in part, the movement of a battery terminal and a lamp terminal into electrical connection, which lamp terminal and battery terminal normally tend to be separated.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a translucent head for a ash lamp of the character described in which the degree of luminosity thereof varies.

The invention also seeks a liash lamp which is practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture and convenience and durability in use.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized and in' which:

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section and partly in elevation, showing the flash lamp of this invention in circuit open position;

Figure 2 is a view showing the flashlight in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 4--4 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The flash lamp casing of this invention comprises generally a tubular member adapted to contain the dry cell or battery and is conveniently formed of acomposition which is at least translucent. In the illustrated embodiment, the casing is shown as formed with a cylindrical portion 5 (Cl. Z110-10.68)

having a cylindrical bore 6 of major diameter, the open extremity of the bore being conveniently threaded as at l. At the opposite end, the casing is provided with a portion 8 having a relatively thicker wall defining a bore 9 of a diameter less 5 than the diameter of the bore 6 in the part 5 and forming substantially a concave socket which may conveniently taper or become progressivelyreduced in diameter as, for instance, on a curvilinear line as shown at IU, to terminate in an axial 10 opening II through which light rays of undiminished intensity may pass from the lamp I3-Il. The lamp I3-I'l has the usual threaded conductive base portion I 4 and central terminal I5 insulated from one another and connected to 15 the lament I6 within the glass enclosure I3, which may, if desired, include a lens-like layer of transparent glass of convex form Il at the tip of the transparent envelope I3, the said tip Il being of a transverse diameter less than the diameter 20 of the base whereby it is protruded into the circular opening to close said circular opening and position the lamp to direct a pencil of clear light out through the opening.

The walls 5-8 of the casing are translucent 25 whereby an annular corona of diiused light is emitted through the walls as shown by the unshaded portion in Figure 2.

Various intensities of light may be obtained by varying, at predetermined points or over pre- 30 determined areas, the thickness of the translucent material. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the upper portion of the converging head B may progres sively decrease in thickness. Also grooves I2 or the like may be formed to run axially. of the head 35 or a portion thereof forming thinner wall portions at these points.

By forming the casing including the head as an integral member of light dilusing material, the light is found to travel within the Walls t0 40 a point materially below the transparent portion I3 of the lamp so that, in fact, a portion of the casing part as well as the head is illuminated and surrounded by the dilused auro of light as shown by the unshaded portion in Figure 2.

Various means may be adopted for illuminating the lamp I3. As shown, a dry cell I9 or battery of dry cells is adapted to be disposed within the casing 5. 'Ihe battery is held in position by means of an end closure threaded into the 50 threaded end 'l of the casing 5 as a plug. The said closure may conveniently have an axial bore 22 adapted to receive a plunger 23 having an enlarged head 24 disposed within the plug on which the battery seats. The battery is separated from the lamp normally by a spring 25, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is shown as threaded onto the threaded base I I of the lamp at the one end and at the other end rests against the zinc cup container of the cell to make contact therewith. It has been found convenient to make the coil spring of a normal diameter slightly greater than the interior diameter of the casing 5 so that in expanding it presses against the sides of the casing 5 and remains in position holding the lamp up into the head so that the battery can be removed through the lower end without the lamp becoming displaced. The spring normally separatesthe central terminal of the battery from the central terminal I5 of the lamp. When the plunger is pressed inwardly through the bore of the plug, the battery is moved upwardly, compressing the spring and bringing the central terminal 26 of the battery into contact with the central terminal I5 of the lamp, thus completing the circuit and illuminating the lamp.

It will thus be seen thatla flashlight has been A provided in which an entirely new effect is obtained, to wit, not only a pencil of light'emitted from the end of the casing in an axial direction and an auro of light of diminished intensity over that area of the head proximate the glass globe I3-I1, but also the wall 8 or 5 itself for an appreciable distance below, relatively speaking, the transparent bulb of the incandescent lamp. is illuminated or caused to glow thereby offering a striking and novel eiect enhancing the beauty and attractiveness of the flashlight as an ornamental novelty which can readily be carried, say, in a ladys purse.

Various colored effects may be obtained by the coloring of the material of the casing which may be composed of some synthetic resin or, casein product.

Various modifications will occur to those' skilled in the art in the composition, conguration and disposition o! the component elements going to make up the invention as a whole as well as in the selection, adaptation and combination of some or any ofthe said component elements, and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawing, except as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A translucid ilashlight casing enclosing a lament containing lamp, an electric dry cell both insertable from the base end thereof and resilient means forming an electrical contact between one pole of the dry cell and one terminal of the lamp but normally holding the other terminal and pole in spaced non-conducting relation, said casing comprising a generally tubular translucid portion of suiicient length to receive the dry cell, a bulb enclosing light diffusing head integral therewith having a portion of progressively decreasing diameter terminating in a light transmitting opening smaller than the diameter of the lamp bulb, thus forming a seat to engage and retain the lamp therein, which lamp bulb will project a clear pencil .of light through said opening, and a dry cell retaining threaded closure for the base end of the tubular portion to hold the lamp and dry cell Within the casing when inserted through said base end said tubular portion being formed with internal threads at the base end to retain the threaded closure, said closurealso having a central aperture, and a plug having a battery engaging portion and a finger engaging element, said linger engaging element projecting through said aperture whereby the plug may be pressed inwardly into the casing against the action of said resilient means to close the flashlight circuit.

, ALBERT GELARDIN. 

